December 5, 2010

NARRAGANSETTâ€”They do not pulse or sting, but they do glow. From Narragansett Bay to Argentina comb jellies shimmer with refracted light from their ever-moving bodies. And they can be spotted through the dark night waters as a result of bioluminescence. Comb jellies are a type of ctenophore (ten-o-for) and natural to Rhode Islandâ€™s waters. They are not dangerous to humans but their early reproduction cycles, which new studies show are a result of climate change, could affect the microscopic and fish life of Narragansett Bay. The jellies early births have encouraged researchers to learn more about this invertebrateâ€™s life cycle in Rhode Island's waters.